Of all the places I’ve visited in Finland, Syöte is the one that caught me most off-guard.
I visited Syöte National Park after 10 days of exploring the best winter escapes across Finland, including places like Koli National Park. Oulu and Helsinki – all truly stunning, unique and easy to fall in love with.
I’ll never forget the sense of awe that filled me during the four-hour train ride from Helsinki to Kuopio – it looked like something from a movie. A wonderful wintry fairytale.
But, after 10 days in Finland – and as much as I hate to admit it – the landscapes don’t hit in quite the same way as the first time you see them after 10 days of immersion.
Yet, just as the novelty of the snow-covered terrain and beautiful soft light had started to wear off… Syöte made me fall in love all over again.
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Why visit Syöte National Park
If you like to hit the slopes, visiting Iso-Syöte should be top of your Finland itinerary.
It’s the southernmost ski resort in the country, and therefore the closest to Helsinki (and other more populated areas of the country, such as Kuopio).
Despite this, the hills are relatively empty – even in the middle of the peak season.
Even if skiing isn’t your thing, there are plenty of ways to enjoy nature in Syöte National Park: mountain biking, hiking, husky safaris and much more.
In fact, Syöte has everything you might travel to Lapland for – and is very much how I always imagined Lapland to be! – so it’s the perfect place to head for a magical winter getaway without the over-tourism.
Plus, due to the lower visitor count, visiting Syöte can be much more affordable than Finland’s more famous regions.
Planning a trip to Syöte National Park
Given its relatively lower number of visitors – especially foreign visitors – you’ll want to make sure you do at least a little bit of planning for Syöte.
This is especially true if you’re visiting Finland in winter because roads can be several feet deep in snow and temperatures can get incredibly low.
As a result, getting around comes with its own unique challenges (even though Finland is well-prepared for it and it’s totally worth it!).
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Getting there
The easiest way to get to Syöte is via the city of Oulu.
There are several direct flights from Helsinki to Oulu every day, taking around 1.5 hours in total.
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Alternatively, you can also take a daytime or sleeper train from Helsinki to Oulu. The latter can be a great way to save time and save money on your accommodation.
You can compare all trains, including times and prices, on this website.
If you can, spend at least one day in Oulu before heading out to Syöte. During 2026, the city has a year-long programme of special events as part of its European Capital of Culture accolade.
Where to stay
I stayed at Hotel Pikku-Syöte during my time in Syöte… and had zero expectations.
I didn’t find much information about the hotel online. And, if anything, it appeared to be more of a youth centre than a hotel.
What I found instead was a hotel that was in the midst of a rebrand – a complete transformation from school trip hostel to boutique hotel.
It was INCREDIBLE.
Now run by two architects who traded their day jobs for a passion project, they’ve turned Pikku-Syöte into a dreamy sanctuary that really made the trip for me.
From the pinewood furniture from Finnish brand Vaarnii and the in-room saunas, to the possibility of enjoying a 3-course fine dining experience for as little as €49, the owners have really turned Pikku-Syöte into something special.
Things to do in Syöte National Park
Given the extreme seasons, how you spend your time in Syöte National Park will depend somewhat on when you visit.
The region enjoys around six months of winter, which is when I visited (and highly recommend!), but there’s plenty to do all year round.
Soak up the nature
As one local put it, “you come here to soak up the nature”.
Like Finland’s other National Parks, Syöte is a place for simply enjoying the outdoors and enjoying all that nature offers us – even if you find yourself in a snowstorm like we did!
As our guide stoically said, “since we can’t see the views, why don’t we take a moment of silence to be grateful?”
Go on a snowshoe hike
The best way to explore many of Finland’s National Parks is by foot.
In the summer, that means grabbing a pair of walking shoes and setting off.
In the winter, that more likely means donning a pair snowshoes so you can navigate a thick layer of snow.
The one thing you should never travel without
Even though you hope you’ll never need to use it, travelling with insurance will make sure you’re covered if anything goes wrong.
I use Heymondo because it’s the most comprehensive cover I’ve found. They even cover the more adventurous activities that other insurers won’t, including skiing, hiking and many of the other adventures found in Finland.
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Hit the slopes
Iso-Syöte is a fantastic resort for downhill skiing and snowboarding at all levels.
The empty slopes and affordable lessons make it a great place for beginners or mixed level groups to enjoy together.
Not only that, but the views are pretty incredible too!
Try cross country skiing
Cross country skiing is BIG in Finland, and that’s especially true in the Syöte region.
Iso-Syöte has plenty of cross country ski trails and openly accepts beginners, so it’s a great place to give it a try (without worrying about upsetting the locals!).
Head out on a husky safari
Lapland isn’t the only place where dog sleds are used as a mode of transport!
Given that the park is covered in snow for a large part of the year, a husky safari is a great way to explore its depths.
You can read more about my experience and my tips for choosing an ethical husky safari in this post.
Look for the northern lights
The further north you go, the greater your chances of witnessing the northern lights.
While nothing in nature is never guaranteed, seeing the northern lights is not uncommon in the Syöte area – so much so that there was even a northern lights tour group staying with us at Pikku-Syöte.
We were lucky to see a very small northern lights show on our final night, but even luckier to witness the more rare Mother of Pearl clouds. Talk about magical!
Enjoy a cosy meal by the fire
Many of the best things to do in Finland – especially in winter – involve doing almost nothing at all.
One of my favourite memories from Syöte was enjoying a cosy meal by a fire place inside a small hut: taking a moment to be still, feel the elements and enjoy connecting with other humans.
Sweat it out in the sauna
Of course, no trip to Finland is complete without several visits to the sauna.
That’s no less true in Syöte, and is made even more enjoyable due to the cold temperatures that the region faces.
Many hotels – including Pikku-Syöte – have saunas for guests to use. Alternatively, you won’t have to look far to find a public one.
